10-20-2022, 12:18 PM
I bought a 1200GS new in 2005. At 3,000 odo miles, the alternator belt seized in Mexico one mile from the U.S. border (Douglas, AZ). Towed to Tuscon, the dealer took one off a bike on the floor so I could continue home to Seattle. I soon learned that GS 1200 riders actually travelled with a spare final drive, considering it a “necessity”. Which is why all of us GS riders always had very big, and very expensive, hard luggage. Full of tools and parts. The next worry became the “antenna” around the ignition key hole that read the key. They put it on with security bolts. And charged almost $300 for it. After numerous fails in very remote places on the globe, BMW, claiming it was “not” a faulty part, reduced the price to about $30. Many of us bought a new antenna, and replaced the old one in the comfort of a warm garage. Since BMW didn’t fix the problem, we put the new one on knowing the original one was in working order. This was a new world for me, coming from Honda and Triumph. I eventually soured on the brand.